The Canadiens faced a grueling playoff run in 2026, pushing past St. Louis in a hard-fought series that extended into the third round before ultimately bowing out. Their season ended in the Eastern Conference Final, where they fell in five games to the Hurricanes, who went on to claim the championship. The series highlighted Montreal’s resilience early on but ultimately tested their limits against a deeper opponent. Fans will reflect on how close they came—and what lessons remain for next year.

St. Louis took the Canadiens three rounds deep in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Montreal ultimately falling in five games to the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.